# Exosome Augmentation Technologies for Drug Delivery and Disease Treatment: A Review **Authors:** Jun Wu, Ruibin Li, Lu Cao, Peiqi Wang, Shiqi Jiang, Yan Chen, Haoxin Fu, Xinhao Xu, Guanyang Lin, Lanjie Lei, Ren-ai Xu PMC · DOI: 10.34133/bmr.0318 · Biomaterials Research · 2026-02-19 ## TL;DR This review explores how engineered exosomes can be used for better drug delivery and disease treatment, highlighting new technologies like microfluidics and aptamers. ## Contribution The paper systematically summarizes the isolation, modification, and application of enhanced exosomes, emphasizing emerging technologies. ## Key findings - Improved exosome isolation methods using aptamers and microfluidics show promise. - Functional modifications enhance exosomes' diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. - Engineered exosomes enable advancements in bioimaging and photothermal therapy. ## Abstract Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted by cells to exchange materials and information. Recent studies have revealed that these modified nanovesicles can be powerful tools for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. However, few studies have reported on the acquisition and application of these functionalized exosomes. Therefore, this study provides a systematic summary of the entire process of isolation, functionalization, modification, and application of enhanced exosomes and recent progress in this field. First, the process of exosome production and principles of disease treatment are elucidated. Thereafter, the methods of exosome isolation are summarized, with a focus on improved technology centered on aptamer technology and new technology represented by microfluidics. Next, the functional modifications of the exosomes are classified and summarized. Finally, new breakthroughs in the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of function-enhancing exosomes compared with those of traditional exosomes are summarized, especially in terms of how these exosomes can be used in bioimaging, photothermal therapy, and other means of achieving a quantum leap in detection and therapeutic efficacy. This paper summarizes the latest research findings on engineered exosomes, with a particular focus on emerging technologies such as microfluidics and aptamers that hold significant potential. It provides a thorough analysis of their respective advantages and limitations, aiming to offer actionable insights for the future advancement and more complex applications of exosomes. ## Full-text entities - **Genes:** IL2 (interleukin 2) [NCBI Gene 3558] {aka IL-2, TCGF, lymphokine}, CD47 (CD47 molecule) [NCBI Gene 961] {aka IAP, MER6, OA3}, MIR21 (microRNA 21) [NCBI Gene 406991] {aka MIRN21, hsa-mir-21, miR-21, miRNA21}, GPX4 (glutathione peroxidase 4) [NCBI Gene 2879] {aka GPx-4, GSHPx-4, MCSP, PHGPx, SMDS, snGPx}, CAMP (cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide) [NCBI Gene 820] {aka CAP-18, CAP18, CRAMP, FALL-39, FALL39, HSD26}, Snhg11 (small nucleolar RNA host gene 11) [NCBI Gene 319317] {aka A930034L06Rik, E130013N09Rik}, Pink1 (PTEN induced putative kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 68943] {aka 1190006F07Rik, BRPK, mFLJ00387}, TNFSF4 (TNF superfamily member 4) [NCBI Gene 7292] {aka CD134L, CD252, GP34, OX-40L, OX4OL, TNLG2B}, ATG5 (autophagy related 5) [NCBI Gene 9474] {aka APG5, APG5-LIKE, APG5L, ASP, SCAR25, hAPG5}, Tlr3 (toll-like receptor 3) [NCBI Gene 142980], CD80 (CD80 molecule) [NCBI Gene 941] {aka B7, B7-1, B7.1, BB1, CD28LG, CD28LG1}, EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) [NCBI Gene 1956] {aka ERBB, ERBB1, ERRP, HER1, NISBD2, NNCIS}, LOC85009 [NCBI Gene 85009], NFKB1 (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1) [NCBI Gene 4790] {aka CVID12, EBP-1, KBF1, NF-kB, NF-kB1, NF-kappa-B1}, Akt1 (Akt serine/threonine kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 11651] {aka Akt, LTR-akt, PKB, PKB/Akt, PKBalpha, Rac}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) [NCBI Gene 2597] {aka G3PD, GAPD, HEL-S-162eP}, MIR511 (microRNA 511) [NCBI Gene 574445] {aka MIR511-1, MIR511-2, MIRN511-1, MIRN511-2, hsa-mir-511, hsa-mir-511-2}, Ppargc1a (peroxisome proliferative activated receptor, gamma, coactivator 1 alpha) [NCBI Gene 19017] {aka A830037N07Rik, Gm11133, PGC-1, PPARGC-1-alpha, Pgc-1alpha, Pgc1}, ERBB2 (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 2064] {aka CD340, HER-2, HER-2/neu, HER2, MLN 19, MLN-19}, IGSF8 (immunoglobulin superfamily member 8) [NCBI Gene 93185] {aka CD316, CD81P3, EWI-2, EWI2, KCT-4, LIR-D1}, Trp53-ps (transformation related protein 53, pseudogene) [NCBI Gene 22060], USP5 (ubiquitin specific peptidase 5) [NCBI Gene 8078] {aka ISOT}, CD82 (CD82 molecule) [NCBI Gene 3732] {aka 4F9, C33, GR15, IA4, KAI1, R2}, Ldlr (low density lipoprotein receptor) [NCBI Gene 16835] {aka Hlb301}, CHMP4B (charged multivesicular body protein 4B) [NCBI Gene 128866] {aka C20orf178, CHMP4A, CTPP3, CTRCT31, SNF7, SNF7-2}, ATP5F1B (ATP synthase F1 subunit beta) [NCBI Gene 506] {aka ATP5B, ATPMB, ATPSB, DYT38, HEL-S-271, HUMOP2}, PTK7 (protein tyrosine kinase 7 (inactive)) [NCBI Gene 5754] {aka CCK-4, CCK4}, SATB2 (SATB homeobox 2) [NCBI Gene 23314] {aka C2DELq32q33, DEL2Q32Q33, GLSS}, Apoa1 (apolipoprotein A-I) [NCBI Gene 11806] {aka Alp-1, Apoa-1, Brp-14, Ltw-1, Lvtw-1, Sep-1}, Irs2 (insulin receptor substrate 2) [NCBI Gene 384783] {aka Irs-2}, Htt (huntingtin) [NCBI Gene 15194] {aka C430023I11Rik, Hd, Hdh, IT15}, EPCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) [NCBI Gene 4072] {aka Ber-Ep4, BerEp4, DIAR5, EGP-2, EGP314, EGP40}, STING1 (stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1) [NCBI Gene 340061] {aka ERIS, MITA, MPYS, NET23, SAVI, STING}, IFNG (interferon gamma) [NCBI Gene 3458] {aka IFG, IFI, IMD69}, Irs1 (insulin receptor substrate 1) [NCBI Gene 16367] {aka G972R, IRS-1}, GRB2 (growth factor receptor bound protein 2) [NCBI Gene 2885] {aka ASH, EGFRBP-GRB2, Grb3-3, MST084, MSTP084, NCKAP2}, Spp1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1) [NCBI Gene 20750] {aka 2AR, Apl-1, BNSP, BSPI, Bsp, ETA-1}, Elane (elastase, neutrophil expressed) [NCBI Gene 50701] {aka Ela2, F430011M15Rik, NE}, Pdcd1 (programmed cell death 1) [NCBI Gene 18566] {aka Ly101, PD-1, Pdc1}, Sirt1 (sirtuin 1) [NCBI Gene 93759] {aka SIR2L1, Sir2, Sir2a, Sir2alpha}, TP53 (tumor protein p53) [NCBI Gene 7157] {aka BCC7, BMFS5, LFS1, P53, TRP53}, SMPD3 (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 3) [NCBI Gene 55512] {aka NSMASE2}, HSPA4 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 4) [NCBI Gene 3308] {aka APG-2, HEL-S-5a, HS24/P52, HSPH2, RY, hsp70}, CD9 (CD9 molecule) [NCBI Gene 928] {aka BTCC-1, DRAP-27, MIC3, MRP-1, TSPAN-29, TSPAN29}, Cd63 (CD63 antigen) [NCBI Gene 12512] {aka ME491, Tspan30}, APP (amyloid beta precursor protein) [NCBI Gene 351] {aka AAA, ABETA, ABPP, AD1, APPI, CTFgamma}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, CD63 (CD63 molecule) [NCBI Gene 967] {aka AD1, HOP-26, ME491, MLA1, OMA81H, Pltgp40}, PLD2 (phospholipase D2) [NCBI Gene 5338] {aka PLD1C}, SRC (SRC proto-oncogene, non-receptor tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 6714] {aka ASV, SRC1, THC6, c-SRC, p60-Src}, Lamp2 (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2) [NCBI Gene 16784] {aka CD107b, LGP-B, Lamp II, Lamp-2, Lamp-2a, Lamp-2b}, MAPK1 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 5594] {aka ERK, ERK-2, ERK2, ERT1, MAPK2, NS13}, USF1 (upstream transcription factor 1) [NCBI Gene 7391] {aka FCHL, FCHL1, HYPLIP1, MLTF, MLTFI, UEF}, VCAN (versican) [NCBI Gene 1462] {aka CSPG2, ERVR, GHAP, PG-M, WGN, WGN1}, Cd274 (CD274 antigen) [NCBI Gene 60533] {aka A530045L16Rik, B7h1, Pdcd1l1, Pdcd1lg1, Pdl1}, TFRC (transferrin receptor) [NCBI Gene 7037] {aka CD71, IMD46, T9, TFR, TFR1, TR}, Nfkb1 (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1, p105) [NCBI Gene 18033] {aka NF-KB1, NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB1, p105, p50, p50/p105}, Nfe2l2 (nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2) [NCBI Gene 18024] {aka Nrf2}, Gja1 (gap junction protein, alpha 1) [NCBI Gene 14609] {aka Cnx43, Cx43, Cx43alpha1, Cxnk1, Gja-1, Npm1} - **Diseases:** stroke (MESH:D020521), acute kidney injury (MESH:D058186), pulmonary fibrosis (MESH:D011658), colorectal tumorigenesis (MESH:D063646), heart disease (MESH:D006331), hypersensitivity (MESH:D004342), type 2 diabetes (MESH:D003924), steatohepatitis (MESH:D005234), muscle degeneration (MESH:D009410), bacterial infections (MESH:D001424), central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas (MESH:D008223), gastric cancer (MESH:D013274), renal tubular epithelial cell injury (MESH:C567703), triple-negative breast cancer (MESH:D064726), breast cancer (MESH:D001943), lung adenocarcinoma (MESH:D000077192), hypoxic (MESH:D002534), oral squamous cell carcinomas (MESH:D000077195), glioblastoma (MESH:D005909), non-small cell lung cancer (MESH:D002289), ulcerative colitis (MESH:D003093), colon carcinoma (MESH:D003110), sepsis (MESH:D018805), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (MESH:D020388), neurological disorders (MESH:D009461), ischemia (MESH:D007511), hepatocellular carcinoma (MESH:D006528), fever (MESH:D005334), spinal cord injury (MESH:D013119), TAMs (MESH:D000072716), ureteral obstruction (MESH:D014517), necrotic (MESH:D009336), pain (MESH:D010146), tumorigenic (MESH:D002471), ischemic brain injury (MESH:D001930), carcinogenic (MESH:D011230), endometrial tumors (MESH:D016889), viral infections (MESH:D014777), CRC (MESH:D015179), leukemia (MESH:D007938), middle cerebral artery occlusion (MESH:D020244), skin trauma (MESH:D012871), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), pancreatic cancer (MESH:D010190), neurodegenerative diseases (MESH:D019636), Inflammation (MESH:D007249), muscle atrophy (MESH:D009133), periodontitis (MESH:D010518), glioma (MESH:D005910), melanoma (MESH:D008545), renal fibrosis (MESH:D005355), prostate cancer (MESH:D011471), lung metastasis (MESH:D009362), liver fibrosis (MESH:D008103), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), swelling (MESH:D004487), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), lung injury (MESH:D055370), osteoporotic (MESH:D058866) - **Chemicals:** LPS (MESH:D008070), iron (MESH:D007501), sucrose (MESH:D013395), lipid (MESH:D008055), agarose (MESH:D012685), lenvatinib (MESH:C531958), olaparib (MESH:C531550), pioglitazone (MESH:D000077205), Cu(2)O (MESH:C000520), ZnO (MESH:D015034), manganese dioxide (MESH:C016552), poly(dimethylsiloxane (MESH:C013830), 5-FU (MESH:D005472), polyethylene glycol terephthalate (MESH:C475920), phospholipid (MESH:D010743), MTX (MESH:D008727), glutathione (MESH:D005978), CLD (MESH:C055140), docetaxel (MESH:D000077143), Mn (MESH:D008345), ethanol (MESH:D000431), glucose (MESH:D005947), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), hydroxyl (MESH:D017665), ROS (MESH:D017382), saponin (MESH:D012503), ceramide (MESH:D002518), clodronate (MESH:D004002), Fe3O4 (MESH:C000499), FeCl2 (MESH:C029451), polydopamine (MESH:C568283), arsenate (MESH:C025657), oligonucleotides (MESH:D009841), Ag (MESH:D012834), 3,3'-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (MESH:C098044), Heparin (MESH:D006493), quinone (MESH:C004532), Prussian blue (MESH:C000170), glycosaminoglycan (MESH:D006025), sugar (MESH:D000073893), adriamycin (MESH:D004317), YC-1 (MESH:C090937), kartogenin (MESH:C572342), Bi2Se3 (MESH:C000613026), RGD (MESH:C047981), porphyrin (MESH:D011166), cisplatin (MESH:D002945), hiltonol (MESH:C019531), IR780 (MESH:C548458), hydrogen peroxide (MESH:D006861), amino (-), silicon (MESH:D012825), superoxide (MESH:D013481), amino sugar (MESH:D000606), dextran (MESH:D003911), AgNO3 (MESH:D012835), Sialic acid (MESH:D019158), phosphatidic acid (MESH:D010712), carbon tetrachloride (MESH:D002251), celastrol (MESH:C050414) - **Species:** Bos taurus (bovine, species) [taxon 9913], Oryctolagus cuniculus (domestic rabbit, species) [taxon 9986], Panax ginseng (Asiatic ginseng, species) [taxon 4054], Allium sativum (garlic, species) [taxon 4682], Lyssavirus rabies (species) [taxon 11292], Akkermansia muciniphila (species) [taxon 239935], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Lycium barbarum (Duke of Argyll's teatree, species) [taxon 112863], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090] - **Cell lines:** Raw 264.7 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Mouse leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0493), LNCaP — Homo sapiens (Human), Prostate carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0395), HN6 — Homo sapiens (Human), Tongue squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_8129), PC-3 — Homo sapiens (Human), Prostate carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0035), OCI-Ly8 — Homo sapiens (Human), Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma germinal center B-cell type, Cancer cell line (CVCL_8803), MCF-7 — Homo sapiens (Human), Invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0031), CMS 7 — Homo sapiens (Human), Childhood acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, Cancer cell line (CVCL_H248), HEK — Homo sapiens (Human), Human papillomavirus-related endocervical adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_M624), ES-D3 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Embryonic stem cell (CVCL_4378), HCT-1165FR — Homo sapiens (Human), Pancreatic carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_D135), MDA-MB-231 — Homo sapiens (Human), Breast adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0062), HepG2 — Homo sapiens (Human), Hepatoblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0027), 8505C — Homo sapiens (Human), Thyroid gland anaplastic carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_1054), U87 — Homo sapiens (Human), Glioblastoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0022), C57BL/6 — Mus musculus (Mouse), Transformed cell line (CVCL_C0MU), 293T — Homo sapiens (Human), Transformed cell line (CVCL_0063) ## Full text _Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917129/full.md ## Figures 5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917129/full.md ## References 278 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917129/full.md --- Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12917129